Campus Animal Information

Office of Disability Services, Campus Animal Information

There are fundamental differences between pets, service animals, therapy animals, and emotional support animals.

Slippery Rock University generally does not permit animals/pets to reside on campus. Some animals, however, are permitted to reside on campus. The animals permitted to reside on campus are: (a) Service Animals, (b) Service-Animals-in-Training from an approved agency, and (c) Emotional Support Animals. Some therapy animals may be allowed on-campus for training purposes.

The University is committed to providing student access to its programs and services. Service Animals and Service-Animals-in-Training from an approved agency are examples of this commitment. An ESA is also a reasonable accommodation provided to qualified students with a disability who live in a University residence.

Definitions

Emotional Support Animals: ESAs are animals that provide emotional support which alleviates one or more identified symptoms or effects of an individual's disability. An ESA must be recommended by a qualified professional for a student to be permitted to have the ESA stay in the student's University residence. An ESA is not a Service Animal. Dangerous, poisonous, illegal, and any other animals that pose a direct threat to the health or safety of individuals in the campus community will not be permitted as an ESA. ESAs do not have public access rights.

Pet: A pet is an animal kept for pleasure and companionship; pets often provide emotional support for their owners. A pet is distinguished from an ESA because a pet's emotional support is not necessary to alleviate one or more identified symptoms or effects of an individual's disability. A pet is neither an ESA nor a Service Animal. Pets cannot reside on University property and are not permitted inside University buildings without authorization.

Therapy Animals: Therapy animals are only allowed when explicitly connected to the course or discipline (e.g. courses in animal assisted interventions within the Recreational Therapy department) and with pre-approval from the faculty member, department, and Disability Services Office. They typically accompany their handlers into a nursing home or hospital. Therapy animals do not have public access rights.

Service Animals: Service animals are generally allowed to accompany their handlers in residences and any public spaces where their handlers are permitted, including University classrooms, laboratories, studios, and other classroom meeting places. Service Animals do have public access rights. If a Service animal's role is not apparent by observation, it is permissible to ask the handler: "Is the animal required because of a disability?" "What work or task is the animal trained to perform?"

There is an online network of individuals and organizations selling service animal certification or registrations implying their customers will have the same protections as a qualified American with a disability with a prescribed medical assistance animal. The United States Department of Justice has repeatedly said that these documents do not convey any rights and they are not to be recognized as proof that a person's pet is a medical assistance animal (Americansdisabilityrights.org, 2018).

Service Animals

Service Animals are generally allowed to accompany their handlers anywhere their handlers are permitted on campus (exceptions may exist in areas requiring protective equipment or clothing for access).

Students planning to live in a campus residence and utilize a Service Animal or Assistance Animal, are strongly urged to provide Housing and Residence Life and the Office of Disability Services notification, prior to the animal arriving to campus. Notification to our office can be emailed to disabilityservices@sru.edu

Please note, approval is not required for a true service animal. However, letting disability services know as a courtesy is appreciated in the event we are questioned by campus officials.

Please, also note the below information must be true for service animals in public settings:

You are a person with a disability and will be using a Service Animal for your use only.
All Service Animals are required to a have had an appropriate medical exam and deemed healthy by a veterinarian.
Animals are not required to wear a service animal vest, but this is helpful in public settings so people are not approaching to touch your animal.
Under the ADA, service animals must be harnessed, leashed, or tethered unless the devices interfere with the animal's work. In this case the handler must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal or effective controls.
The handler is financially responsible for the actions of the approved service animal. These actions include bodily injury and property damage.
At all times, the cost and care maintenance and health and well-being are the responsibility of the handler. Service animals must meet all local ordinances regarding vaccinations and proper licensure.
As a courtesy to others, as much as possible the handler should ensure that the service animal does not approach and sniff others, dining tables, or personal belongings of others.
Waste cleanup is the responsibility of the handler. If the handler is not able to physically pick up the animal waste, they must hire or establish someone who is able to complete the task. The waste must be properly disposed of in a trash receptacle.
Service animals may travel freely inside and outside of a residence hall and university owned property.
The animal can be asked to leave campus if the animal is out of control, a threat to others, not housebroken, or the animal is ill.
The department of Justice is clear that the following animals are not considered service animals under the ADA and ADAAA:
- Any animal besides a dog (though in some special cases a miniature horse may be used).
- Animals that serve to provide crime preventive tasks.
- Emotional support, comfort, or companionship animals.

Service Animals in Training

The Department of Justice’s administrative rules for Title II and Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act does not recognize service animals in training.  Under ADA, service animals in training are treated the same as pets and should only go to pet-friendly locations.

However, many states grant service animals in training, with conditions, the same public access rights as a fully trained service animal. Under state law, in Pennsylvania, service animal trainers may train their own animals and be allowed to have public access. Animals may be asked to leave a facility if their behaviors are not appropriate.

According to https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/service-dog-requirements/ (2022); The same rules apply as above for service animals in training:

A person is eligible for a service dog if they have a physical, emotional or mental disability
A service dog must always be well mannered (No sniffing, jumping, begging for food, etc.)
A service dog must be trained to perform specific tasks that aid in a disability
If it is not obvious what service the dog provides, the handler must be willing to answer two questions about their service dog. (Is this dog required for a disability? AND What tasks is this animal trained to perform?)
Optionally, it can help service dogs to be clearly identified with accessories.

Under PA law a person is guilty of a summary offense if he, being the proprietor, manager or employee of a theatre, hotel, restaurant or other place of public accommodation, entertainment or amusement, refuses, withholds or denies any person, who is using a guide, signal or service dog or other aid animal that has been certified by a recognized authority to assist a person, because of the physical disability, blindness or deafness of the user, or who is training a guide, signal or support dog or other aid animal for or from a recognized authority for such a user, the use of or access to any accommodation, advantage, facility or privilege of such theatre, hotel, restaurant or other place of public entertainment or amusement. (Source 2017: PA CS 18 § 7325)

Students are strongly urged to arrange a meeting with the Office of Disability Services to connect with appropriate resources.

The Office of Disability Services may be contacted by phone 724.738.4877 or by email. disabilityservices@sru.edu
More information related to Service Animals can be found on the ADA website ADA Service Animal Information
If you have questions, would like assistance planning for a Service Animal on campus, or have a concern about your treatment and access when accompanied by your Service Animal contact the Office of Disability Services at disabilityservices@sru.edu, or by calling the central office line at 724.738.4877. Please indicate you are calling to request a meeting regarding your Service Animal.

Students trying to misrepresent a pet or ESA as a service animal in training or a trained service animal are committing fraud and will be referred to the conduct process either through Residence Life or Student Conduct.

Emotional Support Animal Application and Approval Process

A student seeking an ESA must make a formal online accommodation request through the Office of Disability Services (ODS). Once received, ODS will forward all of the ESA documentation that is required to continue with your request. The student must:

Submit to ODS a completed ESA Request for Information form, recently filled out by a qualified professional (e.g. psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health professional) as well as all other required documentation included in the ESA paperwork received.
Submit to ODS personal statement explaining the reason(s) for the ESA and making a commitment to provide appropriate care for the ESA.
When the above is submitted, meet with the Director of ODS to discuss the request, review paperwork, and receive a determination of the request.

The University will make every effort to respond to a formal ESA request within thirty (30) calendar days from the date a completed formal request is submitted. Because it takes time to evaluate ESA requests, students should plan to submit ESA requests more than 30 days before the student intends to move into the University residence or have the ESA live with the student. If the formal request for an ESA is not completed well in advance of the desire to have an ESA, the University cannot guarantee that it will be able to meet the student's accommodation needs immediately; the University will attempt to meet needs as quickly as it can.

Until a student is notified that the student's ESA request has been approved, a student must not bring an animal into their residence or other University housing. Bringing an unapproved animal into a University residence - even an animal that likely would have been approved - will have three consequences.

First, the student could be assessed a fine for having an unapproved animal in a residence.
Second, the student will be in violation of the SRU Code of Conduct and a referral will be made to either the Office of Residence Life Conduct Process or the Office of Student Conduct.
Third, the student's ESA request may not be approved. One of the conditions that an Owner has to meet is that the Owner will be a responsible owner and will abide by University policies. Bringing an unapproved animal into a University residence is a signal that the student cannot meet that condition.

Once a completed formal request for an ESA has been received, the request will be reviewed for approval or denial (or alteration) by the Director of ODS. The Director will consider any and all relevant information available to it in making a determination about whether an ESA would be a reasonable accommodation for the requesting student. Among the factors the Director will assess are:

The nature of the qualified professional's recommendation.
The Owner's personal statement.
The Owner's commitment, and ability, to be a responsible owner of the animal.
Whether the ESA's presence would force another individual from their University residence (e.g., allergies, emotional health).
Whether the ESA's presence would disturb other individuals' right to peace and quiet enjoyment.
Whether the ESA is housebroken and able to live with others in a healthy, reasonably odor-free manner.
The Owner's plan for the ESA when the Owner is not present in the room (e.g., Will the dog be crated? Will the bunny be in a cage?) We ask all students bring a crate or cage so when the student is not present the animal is kept safe.
Whether the ESA's vaccinations are up to date.
The size of the animal relative to the size of the residential space. Large animals should not be confined to small spaces; it is not fair to the animal. Animals less than 25 lbs. tend to be appropriate in most University housing spaces. Animals larger than 25 lbs. will have an additional assessment to determine whether the residential space is appropriate/adequate.
Whether the ESA causes excessive damage to property beyond reasonable wear and tear.
The presence of other ESAs. Typically, only one ESA to a residential space is appropriate.
Whether the ESA poses, or has posed in the past, a direct threat to the health and safety of persons or other animals. Animals who exhibit aggressiveness are not appropriate for University residences, regardless of whether they have "actually" injured someone. In other words, the University does not have to wait until someone is harmed; aggressive behavior is disqualifying.
Legal requirements.

Students will be notified of the Director's decision in writing (often via email). If an ESA is approved, the student must meet with the Director of ODS to review and sign the procedure. Failure or refusal to sign the procedure will be presumed to be an indication that the student does not intend to abide by the procedure and will result in revocation of the approval. It is the student's obligation to ensure that all appropriate documentation of the animal's vaccinations and health is submitted to ODS. Copies of the animal's documents will be kept on file in ODS. ODS will notify Housing and Residence Life when an ESA is approved to be in campus housing.

Any approval under this procedure is valid for one academic year. A student wishing to have an ESA for a subsequent year must notify ODS of the student's desire to continue utilizing the ESA accommodation when the housing and placement process begins for the upcoming academic year. The University requires an Owner to annually sign the ESA procedure.

**For full access to the procedure and process please contact disability services at 724.738.4877 to make an appointment.

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